Amusement device



F. M. PIERCE 2,044,994

AMUSEMEMT DEVICE Filed OC'b. 18, 1955 :Zwan/ WZ. gre.

Patented June Z3, 19.36

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AMUSEMENT DEVICE x `Frank MrPierce. Miami,Fla. Application oteber 1s, i935, serial No. 45,595

` 15 claims. (ci.` 27s- 138) My invention relates to amusement devicesand particularly to a structure comprising a housing or cage having aplurality of shelves therein, together with projector means manuallyoperable from the exterior of the cage for throwing counting memberssuch as dice upwardly in the cage to land on the shelves, the scoringbeing determined by the arrangement of the counting members on theshelves.

A feature of the invention is the provision of shelves of differentcolors and counting members of corresponding colors with the scoringdepending upon projected counting members landing on correspondinglycolored shelves. i

Another feature of the invention is the inclusion among the countingmembers 4of an` elongated preferably tubular member, as for example athimble, with the landing of the thimble on a shelf, whether on its sideor on end, having a certain value in the determination of the score.

A further feature of the inventionis the provision of a unitary shelfstructure in the form of a stepped plate with the steps forming theshelves, and with the shelf structures pivotally mounted for swing orrotation thereof to dump the accumulated counting and scoring members.

A further feature of the invention resides in improved projection meansAin the form of a projection lever extending along the bottom of the cagefor supporting the counting members at its inner end so that a downwardblow on its outer end will cause the counting members to be thrownupwardly in the cage for landing on the shelves j l 'I'he aboveenumerated and other features of the invention are embodied in thestructure shown on the drawing, in which drawing 1 t Figure 1 is a planview of the device; and

Figure 2 isa section on plane IIK-II of `Figure 1`.

The structure shown comprises the elongated rectangular base l whoseinnerportion has the rearwardly inclined top 2. A housingis mounted lonand secured to the base i and-,may bein the form of a cage comprisinglanarchshaped wall 3 forming the front and rear sides and the top of thecage, and the side wall structures 4` which may be in the form of Wirenetting, which netting may be secured to the inwardly deflected portionsor flanges 5 on the wall 3, The top portion of the wall 3 may beprovided with longitudinally extending slots 6` so that through theseslots and Vthe Wire mesh vsides 4,`the interior of thef cage may befully visible at all times'.` n y At approximately thel central point ofthek mesh `side walls 4, these walls-*nave bearingaplates 1 ,a pocket I8provided in Agagingu against the under side of the prosecured theretoforjournaling shaft 8` which is secured to the rear end of a shelfstructure 9 which, when in its normal position, extends `for-f wardly tothe front part of the wall 3, `the shelf structure normally resting on astop I0 which may be in the form of a sheet metal strip securedmto andextending between the mesh side walls 4. VBetween the side walls il andthe adjacentedges ofthe shelf structure, washers `Il of suitablematerial are mounted on the shaft 8" so as to keep the shelf structureclear at its edges from the side walls 4.` The outer ends l2 of theshaft are deflected at right angles to afford handles by means of whichthe shelf structure may be swung yupwardly to `dump accumulated countingmembers therefrom after a playing operation, and the extent of suchdumping movement is limited by the engagement of one of the handle endswith a'stop I` 3 extending from one of the side Walls VI. "Ikfhe shelfstructure maybe in the form of a single plate of' sheet metal deflectedto form the step or shelf portions A, B and C, and these shelf portionsmay have their top surfaces of different colors, as for example, red,white and blue, respectively.

The projector mechanism shown comprises an elongated rectangular plateor board M which is pivoted intermediate its ends on the base I. Toprovide such pivot support, a U-shaped yoke frame I5 may be screwed orotherwise secured against the underside of the projector board with itsdepending ends engaging pivot screw |6 se cured in the base which may beof Wood or formed of` sheet metal, as desired. The pivot support of theboard is adjacent to the front end of Vthe inclined top 2 of the base,the board` extending rearwardly to within a short distance of lthe rearpart of thewall 3 and is normally held` in inclined position by athrustspring I' seated in the base and enjeetor platera freni; of theplate pivot axis, the top' surface 2 of the base having preferably acushion abutment I9 thereon for engagement by the inner' end of theprojector board.

The front end of the projector board extends to the exterior of the cagethrough an Aopening 20 provided-in the front part of the Wall 3, and onthis outer end of the board an impact cushion 2l,` which may be ofsponge rubber, is secured which cushion is struck by the fist or theAhand for quick upward` swing of the rear end of the board and upwardprojection of counting members normally supported by the board'.` Thecounting members 22 are preferably in the form of cubes or dice and forsupporting the counting lil 2.1 Y, members on the projector board asheet metal frame of angular cross section is mounted on the board I4above the rear portion thereof. This supporting frame may be formed froma single piece of sheet metal and comprises the wall parts 23, 24 and25, the wall 24 extending upwardly at right angles with the wall 23, thewall 23 resting at its rear end against the rear end of the board I4 andbeing held tilted away from the board I 4 by the front wall 2,5, thesupporting structure being held in place as by screws 26 extendingthrough the wall and into the board I4. The walls 23 and 24 may be linedby cushioning material 2 such as felt.

The counter members 22 may be plain cubes or game dice and arepreferably of different colors,`

as for example, red, white .and b lue, to correspond with the coloringofthe s'helVesA, B and C. The counting members normally .rest onthe:

support wall 2;? against the back wall 24 thereof, 'andto avoidinterference of the side walls 4 with thelcounting members, guide orguard walls 28 may be extendedl upwardly from the supporting wall 23 infront of the back wall 24.

'In playing the game, the projector lever is sudde nlyv swung by a blowagainst the outer end thereof;` as-by the fist. The counting membersarethen thrown upwardly and forwardly to land 'onthe'shelves A, B and C,the score depending 'upon the matching of the colored counting memberswith the colors of the shelves on which they land, a count of ten beingrecorded for each cube that llands ona shelf of similar color. A countof "'30-will be registered if all three cubes land onthe` same shelf;`After each play the shelf structure is swungy upwardly to dump the acv'cumulated lcounters therefrom. 'I'o make the Ygame more interesting, anodd or roving counting 'member of elongated or tubular form, such as a'thimble 29 may be added. The game could be that when the thimble landson any shelf on its side it would not count Ain the scoring, but-if thethimblelanded on either end it would put the ,player wout. l,

l' "A tiltableand preferably removable shelf 30 is lalsoprovided to beextended between the side 'wallsll `in the path of projected counters,the scoring depending on the number of counters VV which canv be Ylandedon top of the shelf. For exmple; the winner-would be the one who firstlanded Vall three cubes, or all three cubes plus the Kthimble, on theshelf 30, this requiring considerfable skill as the thimble is lighterthan thecubes and .more 4or less interferes with the landing of thecubes; "i-Where' game dice are'used, the scoringjcould llfuriiher dependon the numbers displayed by the "dice" after landing on the shelves:-'I'o"'eliminate noise and stop the impact of the 'projector board whenit is struck downwardly, a

cushion 3| preferably of sponge rubber is secured vontheY base lv belowthe projector board. The front end ofthe base I` may be hollow toprovide a resented@ 32 f l .;Iliaye shown a practical and efficientembodi- Iment of the various features of my inventiombut .'I-do lnotdesire .to be limited to the exact construction, arrangement andoperation shown and described as changes andmodifications may readfilybe made without kdeparting from the scope anridfsp'irit ofthe invention.V.I

vwill' claim as follows:

ll In a device of the class described, a housing, .za-projection leverextending along the bottom of the housing to be struck for upward swingof the inner end of the lever, supporting means on the 'inner end ofsaid lever for counting members, a

shelf structure within said housing providing a series of shelves forreceiving the projected count- 'ing' members when said lever isoperated, said `shelf'` structure being hinged to be swung for dumpingtherefrom of the accumulated counting members.' `3. In a device of theclass described, a housing, a projection vlever extending along thebottom of said-housing with its outer end projecting to the exterior ofthe housing to be struck downwardly for'upward swing of the inner end ofthe lever, a support on the inner end of said lever for countingmembers, a shelf structure within said housing providing a plurality ofshelf surfaces for receiving projected counting members when said leveris operated, said shelf structure being arranged to be swung for dumpingcollected counting members therefrom back -onto said support.

4. In a device of the class described, a housing, a projection leverextending along the bottom of said housing with its outer end at theexterior thereof vto be struck downwardly for upward swing of the innerend of the lever, a support on the inner end of the lever, a pluralityof counting members comprising a number of cubes and a 'tubular member,said counting members normally resting on said support for upwardprojection -thereof in said housing when said lever is operated, andshelving within said housing for receiving projected counting members,said shelving being arranged to be manually moved for dumplingl receivedcounting members therefrom back to said support.

5.-In a device of the class described, the combination of a cagestructure, a projection lever extending along the bottom of said cagewith its vouter end projecting to the exterior thereof to be struckdownwardly for upward swing of the inner end of the lever, a support atthe inner end of said lever, a plurality of counting members comprisinga number of cubes and a thimble, said counting members normally restingon said support, shelves in said cage structure equal in number to thevnumber of cubes for receiving the pro- 'jected cubes or the thimblewhen the lever is operated, said cubes being differently colored andsaid shelves being correspondingly colored.

6. In a device of the class described, a housing, a projection leverpivoted intermediate its ends and extending along the bottom of thehousing 'with its outer end projecting to the exterior of fthe housingto be struck for upward swing at the inner end of the lever, supportingmeans on the inner end of said lever for counting members, al

.dumping therefrom of the accumulated counting members, and a removableshelf in said housing above said pvoted shelf structure for receivingprojected counting members.

7. In a device of the class described, a housing, a projection leverpivoted intermediate its ends and extending along the bottom of thehousing with its outer end projecting to the exterior of the housing tobe struck for upward swing at the inner end of the lever, supportingmeans on the inner end of said lever for counting members, upper andlower shelf structures Within said housing for receiving projectedcounting members, said shelf structures being tiltable in directions fordumping .accumulated counting members therefrom back to said supportingmeans.

8. In a device of the class described, a housing, a projection leverextending into said housing from the exterior thereof and adapted tosupport counting members, and shelving within said housing for receivingprojected counting members when said projection lever is operated, saidcounting members being differently colored and said shelving havingsurfaces colored to correspond with the coloring of said countingmembers.

9. In a device of the class described, a cage structure, a projectinglever extending into said cage structure from the exterior thereof andadapted for supporting counting members Within said cage structure,shelving within said cage structure for receiving projected countingmembers when the lever structure is operated, and means supporting saidshelving for dumping movement thereof to return received countingmembers to said lever.

10. In a device of the class described, a housing, a projection leverextending along the bottom of said housing with its outer end at theexterior of the housing for manipulation thereof, a plurality ofcounting members comprising a number of cubes and a tubular member, saidcounting members normally resting on said lever for upward projectionthereof in said housing when said lever is operated, and shelving withinsaid housing for receiving projecting counting members, said shelvinghaving differently colored surfaces.

11. In a device of the class described, a housing, a projection leverextending across the bottom of said housing with its manipulating end atthe exterior of the housing, said lever having pivotal supportintermediate its ends within said housing and adapted to supportcounting members at one side of the housing for upward projection insaid housing when said lever is manipulated, and shelving supported atthe opposite side of said housing for receiving projected countingmembers.

12. In an amusement device of the class described, a housing, aprojection lever extending across the bottom of said housing with itsfront end outside of the housing for manipulation thereof, meanspivoting said lever within said` housing near the front thereof, saidlever at its inner end being adapted to support counting membersadjacent the rear wall of said housing, and shelving at the front partof said housing above said lever for receiving projected countingmembers.

13. In an amusement device of the class described, a housing, aprojection lever extending across the bottom of said housing with itsfront end outside of the housing for manipulation thereof, meanspivoting said lever Within said housing near the front thereof, saidlever at its inner end being adapted to support counting membersadjacent the rear wall of said housing, and shelving at the front partof said housing above said lever for receiving projected countingmembers, and means supporting said shelving for dumping movement thereofto return received counting members to the rear end of said lever.

14. In an amusement device of the class described, a housing, aprojection lever extending into said housing from the exterior thereofand arranged for manipulation to project counting members therefromupwardly through said housing, and upper and lower shelf structureswithin said housing for receiving projected counting members, said shelfstructures beingtiltable in direction for dumping accumulated countingmembers therefrom back to said lever.

15. In a device of the class described, a housing, a lever extendinginto said housing from the exterior thereof and arranged formanipulation to project counting members therefrom upwardly in saidhousing, shelving within said housing above said lever, said shelvingcomprising an upper shelf structure and a lower shelf structure forreceiving projected counting members, said shelf structures beingtiltable in direction for dumping accumulated counting members therefromback to said lever, said shelving having 50 differently coloredsurfaces.

FRANK M. PIERCE.

